Hershey road project expected to end in 2013

The construction zone in downtown Hershey should be gone by summer’s end — at least from Chocolate Avenue.

The $12 million project eliminated a dogleg on Route 743 (Cocoa Avenue) at Chocolate Avenue, and a pedestrian underpass on Chocolate Avenue should be done by the end of August, said Gregory Penny, spokesman for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

View full sizeBARBARA MILLER, The Patriot-NewsPart of the construction project in Hershey should be done by the end of summer.

Work will then shift a block north to construction of a bridge over Norfolk Southern railroad tracks and an underpass under Park Drive.

The expansive hole — 15 to 17 feet deep — in front of Hershey Community Center is needed to install the concrete underpass and approach walkways on the southern half of Chocolate Avenue. The northern half of the project was completed earlier this year.

The first week of June, seven pre-cast concrete segments were lowered by crane and assembled into the pedestrian tunnel, which is about 8½-feet high inside.

Traffic was periodically stopped while the crane swung the concrete pieces around into the hole, but otherwise traffic has kept flowing through shifts in traffic lanes.

To meet Americans With Disabilities Act requirements, the approach to the underpass includes switchbacks of concrete ramps. Pedestrians will enter next to The Hershey Co. offices on the south side, and on the north, just east of the community center building.

Evening work has included equipment breaking up rock, since there is a blasting restriction in Hershey, said a supervisor from Trumbull Corp. of Pittsburgh, contractor on the project.

PPL also has installed a new electric service vault in the hole, Penny said.

Work has begun on the new railroad bridge, but there have been problems with delays in that part of the project, Penny said.

While Trumbull had hoped to finish the entire project by year’s end, Penny said that isn’t likely, and it will probably take until the original scheduled end date of June 2013.

What many residents wonder about the project is when the 20-foot tall mound of dirt at the routes 422-743 intersection in the middle of town — nicknamed “Mount Hershey” — will be gone.

That probably won’t be until next year, Penny said. Once abutments for the new bridge are built, the dirt will be used to backfill, Penny said. Reusing the soil in this manner, which was approved by Derry Twp. and Hershey officials, reduces the cost of trucking fill elsewhere, Penny said.

The “haul” road between the dirt pile and community center will disappear as well, Penny said.

The design for the site is up to the Hershey entities, who own the property, said James Negley, Derry Twp. manager, who added that some type of land development approval might be needed.

Don Papson, executive director of the M.S. Hershey Foundation, said, “The Hershey entities are working toward a plan to create an appropriate downtown centerpiece that will recognize Milton Hershey’s dedication to our community.”

Plans are expected to be finalized in September for a dedication in June 2013, Papson said.

When the work shifts north to the railroad bridge, Park Drive will remain open until the bridge and a new road are completed, Negley said. The pedestrian underpass will be underground in the area of ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park.

Even with the move of the Hershey Chocolate plant to the expanded West Plant, Hershey entities recommended the underground pedestrian tunnel remain, since they foresaw an increase in walking traffic in the area. Eliminating the tunnel would have saved about $700,000, Negley previously said.

PENNLIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Most Read

Active Discussions

Get 'Today's Front Page' in your inbox

This newsletter is sent every morning at 6 a.m. and includes the morning's top stories, a full list of obituaries, links to comics and puzzles and the most recent news, sports and entertainment headlines.

Leave this field blank

optionalCheck here if you do not want to receive additional email offers and information.See our privacy policy

Thank you for signing up for 'Today's Front Page'

To view and subscribe to any of our other newsletters, please click here.